Laundry machine



y 1934- J. B. KIRBY 1,957,142

LAUNDRY MACHINE Filed March 20, 1929 laaueg'teaf IOJMMM gttorgega ill Patented May 1, i934 P-Araur OFFICE 1,957,142 LAUNDRY moms James B. Kirby, West ltichfield, Qhio, assignor to Industrial Improvements Incorporated, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application March 20,1929, Serial No. 348,522

8 (Jlaims.

This invention relates to extracting machines for laundry use and in some degree to combined clothes washing and extracting machines, and has for its object the provision of a particular- 1y inexpensive, simple, reliable, and easily cleaned device of this character, whereby nary miscellaneous articles of clothing and laundry can be washed and the adherent liquid removed centrifugally. More detailed objects are the provision of new and improved mechanism for ejecting the extracted liquid from the machine; for ejecting the washing liquid from the machine; for controlling the flow and disposition of the ejected liquid; for rinsing and bluing clothing and disposing of the rinsing and bluing liquids; for facilitating cleaning of the machine; while further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this application I have shown, somewhat diagrammatically, the essential features of a practical operative machine embodying my improvements. Fig. l is a side elevation of my improved machine partlyin section; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the machine shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view corresponding to the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view through a desirable type of discharge valve; and Fig. 5 is a sectional view through the drainage valve.

In its simplest form the machine comprises a bottom plate 1 supported on legs 2-2 and carrying a washing tub or casing 3 and an extractor-casing l. In the present embodiment the extractor-casing is upwardly flaring, preferably frusto conical in shape, with its smaller end wall resting on the plate 1 and its upper end received in a circular tapered opening formed therefor in a suitable top plate 6, which plate also has a second opening closely receiving the upper margin of the side wall of the casing 3. In the present embodiment the last named wall is made cylindrical in shape excepting at the region adjacent to the extractor where it is retroverted as at '7 to accommodate and fit closely against one side of the casing 4. The bottom of the casing or tub 3 is preferably completely circular and is made from a sheet metal plate 3. A washing element ofany suitable or desired type, here typified by an oscillatable dashe'r 9, is operatively mounted inside the washing-tub or casing 3 and operated according to its kind by any suitable mechanical element (not shown) contained in the housordi- (Gi. Mil-#5) ing carried by the plate 1. A vertical drive shaft 11 traverses the bottom plate 5 of the extractor-casing and is arranged to be rotated rapidly on'occasion by suitable driving connections, such for example as the friction plate ca 12 resting on the friction disk 13 carried by the horizontal shaft 14 operated by suitable gearing connections (not shown) inside the housing 15. The washing and extracting mechanisms are preferably operated by a single elec- 65 trio motor 16' and are preferably subject to independent control as by levers 1'? and 18.

The top .plate 6 herein shown is preferably formed with a depending flange 20 surrounding and closely embracing the wall of the casing 3 Y0 and a second flange 21 similarly surrounding and stiffening the top of the casing 4. The flange 21 subtends a complete circle and is formed at the inner boundary of an annular ledge 22, whose outer boundary is constituted 75 by the upstanding arcuate flange 23, and the ledge merges at the side opposite the washing tub with an outwardly extending and downwardly sloping apron 24 adapted to overlap the rim of a set-tub or wash-tub as shown in Fig. 1. The flange 23 merges at each side with an upstanding wall 25 carried by said apron. The top of the tub or casing 3 is preferably traversed by a web 26 also surrounded by an upstanding marginal flange 27 andformed with a circular opening 28 adapted to receive removable cover 29.

Formed in the side of the casing 4 slightly below its top is an aperture 30 over which is fastened the hollow fitting 31 which leads to one port 32 of the upright valve casing 33. Formed in the opposite side of the valve casing is a similar port 34 which is connected by the downwardly sloping pipe 35- with the aperture 36 formed in the side wall of the tub or casing 3. Formed at the lower end of the valve casing 33 is the hose nipple 37 to which is attached a flexible discharge hose 38, and located inside this casing is the valve member which here comprises a turnable plug 40 having two passageways therein, one a horizontal groove 41 adapted when moved to one position to corinect the aperture 30 to the pipe 35 as shown in Fig. 3, and the other passageway being an upright channel 42 connecting the 'side wall and end wall of the valve-plug so that when turned to another position the aperture 30 is connected to the hose 38. In a third position of thev valve plug the opening 30 is closed entirely. Preferably also a yielding mannor as by means of the spring raised from its seat against the tension of this spring all parts thereof may be 'drained freely into the hose 38. The valve 40 is operated by a rod 55 terminating in a suitable handle 56 located within easy reach of the operator adjacent the flange 23, and is here provided with a dial plate 57 formed with suitable indicia (here typified by the figures l, 2, 3), indicating the operative positions of the valve. Preferably this valve and its handle are located in the angle between the apron 24 and flange 23.

The bottom of the casing 3 is connected to the bottom of the compartment 4 by means of a waste conduit 45 provided with a drainage neck 46 and three-way valve 47 so constructed as to connect the tub and compartment, either to each other or to the drain or to keep them separate.

Carried by the shaft inside the casing 4 is an extractor container 50, having a flaring perforated side wall which swings rather close to the tapered wall 4. The bottom of this container is formed with an upstanding hollow hub 51 receiving the shaft in supporting and vibration-resisting relation. The upper end of the container is preferably formed with an inwardly rolled rim or lip 52 defining a central aperture 53 for the introduction and removal of the laundry articles, while preventing overflow of water or laundry articles from inside said container during the extracting operation. The container preferably reaches its maximum diameter slightly above the level of the ledge 22.

The washing operation requires no explanation. During the ordinary washing and extracting the waste valve occupies a position such as shown for example in Fig. 5 so that the casings 3 and 4 are isolated from each other and from the drain 46. At the end of the washing operation the clothing is transferred to the container 50. If it is desired to save the liquid, the valve 40 is turned to connect the openings 30 and 36, after which the shaft 11 is rotated rapidly. The liquid extracted from the clothing is caused by the air currents due to the close proximity between the container 50 and the casing wall to climb the slanting wall of said casing outside of said container until it reaches the level of the opening 30 whence it returns to the tub 3. If it is not desired to save this liquid the valve can either be turned so as to connect the opening 30 to the hose 38 or to close all passages from that opening whereupon the liquid continues to rise along the wall 4 until it overflows the ledge 22 and is discharged over the apron 24. The greater part of the liquid is discharged during the first part of the extracting operation and at a comparatively low speed. The high speed desirable for the more thorough drying of the clothes does not commence until the substantial body of liquid has been ejected, and the power required is therefore not excessive.

As soon as the washing liquid has been extracted the rotation is stopped and a quantity of rinse water poured into the extractor and stirred up either by hand or by slowly rotating the member 50. The valve 40 is then turned to deliver the rinsing liquid as desired and the container r0- tated rapidly to eject the same. Bluing water if desired can then be introduced and afterwards removed in the same manner; At the end of the operation, when it is desired to empty the washing compartment it is necessary merely to turn the waste valve so as to connect the casing 3 to the compartment 4, and thereafter to rotate the container 50 which willrapidly eject cubfifl l the waste valve so as to connect both the compartments to the drain 46. This is no substantial hardship since the amount of liquid remaining is small.

The member 50 being readily removable, the interior of the compartment 4 can be wiped out as readily as the casing 3. There being no separate pump beneath the casing, expense is diminished, and injury through freezing avoided.

It is not necessary that the extractor container be perforated throughout its entire extent or that it conform exactly to the shape and slope of the casing in which it is located, provided only that it have enough discharge openings to eject the liquid and that a sufficient portion of the container project into such proximity to the surrounding wall as to induce the necessary swirling motion and consequent centrifugal elevation of the liquid. This swirling action can obviously be enhanced by increasing the roughness of the container wall. The presence of perforations has this eifect in some degree and the same can be supplemented by blades or fins as shown at 55 in Fig. 1; though I have here shown the same as restricted to the bottom surface thereof, and do not limit myself either to restrict them to this location or to employ them at all, since the device is fully operative either way. Also I do not limit myself to a circular container nor to a smooth-walled container, nor to one having the same slope as the casing. Neither'do I limit myself to the shape, construction or arrangement of the valves'herein shown nor to the illustrated discharge provisions nor to any other features of construction and arrangement herein shown except as the same are specifically recited in my several claims which I desire may be construed broadly, each independent of limitations contained in other claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. In a laundry machine, a stationary casing having an upwardly flaring uninterrupted side wall and an extractor container mounted vertically in said casing and having a part which rotates in close proximity to said side wall as said container is revolved, the upper part of said side wall having an outlet for the liquid, said container having apertures in the part adjacent to said side wall.

2. In a laundry machine, a stationary casing having an upwardly flaring side wall and an extractor container mounted vertically in said casing and having a perforated part which rotates in close proximity to said side wall as said container is revolved, said casing being water-tight at its lower part and having an outlet for liquid in its upper part and having a smooth inner wall up which the extracted liquid climbs centrifugally under the influence of the rotation of said perforated part.

3. In a laundry machine, an extractor chamber having a stationary circular side wall flaring outwardly and upwardly, an extractor container inside said chamber having liquid discharge perforations therein at a level below its top, and said side wall having discharge provisions above the level of said perforations.

4, In a laundry machine, an extractor chamcause the extracted liquid to rise along the casing her having a stationary circular side wall flaring outwardly and upwardly, an extractor container inside said chamber having liquid discharge perforations therein at a level below its top, and said side wall having a plurality of discharge provisions above the level of at least a part of said perforations, and means for rendering certain of said provisions inoperative, the sic 1e wall portions of said container being located so close to the side wall portions of said chamber that the rotation of said container will cause the extracted liquid to rise along the chamber wall outside of said container to the height of the lowest open discharge.

5. In a laundry machine, an extractor chamber having a stationary circular side wall flaring outwardlyand upwardly, an extractor container inside said chamber having liquid discharge perforations therein at a level below its top, and said side wall having a plurality of discharge conduits communicating with said casing interior adjacent its upper part and above the level of at least a part of said perforations, and means for controlling the passage therethrough, the side wall portions of said container being located so close to the side wall portions of said chamber that the rotation of said container will cause the extracted liquid to rise along the chamber wall outside of said container to the height of the lowest open discharge.

6. In an apparatus for the purpose set forth, an upwardly flaring stationary casing, an extractor revolubly supported inside said casing and coaxial therewith, the side wall of the extractor being located so close to the interior of the casing that the rotation of said extractor will wall outside of said container, a fixed drain-board carried at the top of said casing to receive liquid overflowing therefrom, and a controllable discharge port communicating with the interior of said casing intermediate the height thereof at a point below said drain-board.

7. In a laundry machine, an extractor comprising an upwardly flaring stationary casing unobstructed interiorly thereof, an upwardly flaring foraminous walled container located in said casing, operating means connected with said container, a plurality of fixed water-conducting elements communicating with the upper part of said casing, and means, for controlling the flow of liquid therethrough to receive and direct liquid expelled from said container to a selected point of discharge, the side wall of said container being located so close to the side wall of the casing that the rotation of said container will cause extracted liquid to rise along the outer wall until one of said conductingv elements is'reached.

8. In an apparatus for the purpose set forth, an upwardly flaring casing, an extractor container journaled on a vertical axis inside said casing and having a perforated side wall parallel to the wall of said casing and located so close 1 to said casing wall that the rotation of said container will cause extracted liquid to rise along said side wall outside of said container, the upper part of said casing being provided with a plurality of fixed discharge devices projecting in different directions from the casing, and means for controlling the passage of liquid through some of the same.

JAMES B. KIRBY. 

